Testing a cable

Abstract

It is presented a method for testing a cable connectable to a remote radio head. The method is performed in a test device and comprises the steps of: generating an outbound test container, the outbound test container comprising digital samples representing a test signal; transmitting the outbound test container and a frequency parameter indicating a frequency on which the test signal is to be transmitted to a converter device being connectable to a plurality of remote radio heads via respective cables, for transmission by the converter device; receiving an inbound test container, the inbound test container comprising digital samples of a response signal received by the converter device based on the outbound test container; and evaluating the inbound test container.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for testing a cable connectable to a remote radio head of a plurality of remote radio heads connectable to a same radio base station of a wireless communication network, the method being performed in a test device and comprising the steps of:
 generating, by the test device, an outbound test container, the outbound test container comprising digital samples representing a test signal; 
 transmitting, by the test device, the outbound test container and a frequency parameter, indicating a frequency on which the test signal is to be transmitted, to a converter device being connectable to the plurality of remote radio heads connectable to the same radio base station via respective cables, for transmission by the converter device; 
 receiving an inbound test container at the test device, the inbound test container comprising digital samples of a response signal received by the converter device based on the outbound test container; and 
 evaluating, by the test device, the inbound test container, 
 wherein the test device is a separate device from the converter device, and 
 wherein each of the plurality of remote radio heads is configured to transmit wireless signals to a user equipment as part of a single radio cell of the wireless communication network. 
 
     
     
       2. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the step of generating an outbound test container comprises including the frequency parameter in the outbound test container; and wherein the step of transmitting comprises transmitting the frequency parameter as part of the outbound test container. 
     
     
       3. The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising the step of:
 transmitting a test setup message to the converter device to configure the converter device to be in a test state. 
 
     
     
       4. The method according to  claim 3 , further comprising the step of:
 transmitting a test reset message to the converter device to configure the converter device to be in a fully operational state. 
 
     
     
       5. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the step of generating the outbound test container comprises generating the outbound test container comprising routing data, the routing data comprising any one or more of: multiple input multiple output, MIMO, branch, outbound port, and inbound port. 
     
     
       6. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the step of evaluating the inbound test container comprises estimating any one or more of cable length, near and remote termination type, time domain transfer function, frequency domain transfer function, amplitude transfer function, phase transfer function, return loss, insertion loss, cable delay and skew of a cable connected to the converter device. 
     
     
       7. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the step of evaluating comprises evaluating a noise level. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the test device includes a baseband module. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the converter device is an indoor radio unit. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of transmitting, by the test device, the outbound test container and a frequency parameter indicating a frequency on which the test signal is to be transmitted to a converter device being connectable to a plurality of remote radio heads via respective cables, for transmission by the converter device is transmitted using a Common Public Radio Interface (CPRI). 
     
     
       11. A test device for testing a cable connectable to a remote radio head of a plurality of remote radio heads connectable to a same radio base station of a wireless communication network, the test device comprising:
 a processor; and 
 a memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, causes the test device to: 
 generate an outbound test container, the outbound test container comprising digital samples representing a test signal; 
 transmit the outbound test container and a frequency parameter, indicating a frequency on which the test signal is to be transmitted, to a converter device being connectable to the plurality of remote radio heads connectable to the same radio base station via respective cables, for transmission by the converter device; 
 receive an inbound test container, the inbound test container comprising digital samples of a response signal received by the converter device based on the outbound test container; and 
 evaluate the inbound test container, 
 wherein the test device is a separate device from the converter device, and 
 wherein each of the plurality of remote radio heads is configured to transmit wireless signals to a user equipment as part of a single radio cell of the wireless communication network. 
 
     
     
       12. The test device according to  claim 11 , wherein the instructions to generate an outbound test container comprise instructions that, when executed by the processor, causes the test device to include the frequency parameter in the outbound test container; and wherein the instructions to transmit an outbound test container comprise instructions that, when executed by the processor, causes the test device to transmit the frequency parameter as part of the outbound test container. 
     
     
       13. The test device according to  claim 11 , further comprising instructions that, when executed by the processor, causes the test device to transmit a test setup message to the converter device to configure the converter device to be in a test state. 
     
     
       14. The test device according to  claim 13 , further comprising instructions that, when executed by the processor, causes the test device to transmit a test reset message to the converter device to configure the converter device to be in a fully operational state. 
     
     
       15. The test device according to  claim 11 , wherein the instructions to generate the outbound test container comprise instructions that, when executed by the processor, causes the test device to generate the outbound test container comprising routing data, the routing data comprising any one or more of: multiple input multiple output, MIMO, branches, outbound port, and inbound port. 
     
     
       16. The test device according to  claim 11 , wherein the instructions to evaluate the inbound test container comprise instructions that, when executed by the processor, causes the test device to estimate any one or more of cable length, near and remote termination type, time domain transfer function, frequency domain transfer function, amplitude transfer function, phase transfer function, return loss, insertion loss, cable delay and skew of a cable connected to the converter device. 
     
     
       17. The test device according to  claim 11 , wherein the instructions to evaluate comprise instructions that, when executed by the processor, causes the test device to evaluate a noise level. 
     
     
       18. A test device comprising:
 means for generating an outbound test container, the outbound test container comprising digital samples representing a test signal; 
 means for transmitting the outbound test container and a frequency parameter, indicating a frequency on which the test signal is to be transmitted, to a converter device being connectable to a plurality of remote radio heads connectable to the same radio base station via respective cables, for transmission by the converter device; 
 means for receiving an inbound test container, the inbound test container comprising digital samples of a response signal received by the converter device based on the outbound test container; and 
 means for evaluating the inbound test container, 
 wherein the test device is a separate device from the converter device, and 
 wherein each of the plurality of remote radio heads is configured to transmit wireless signals to a user equipment as part of a single radio cell of the wireless communication network. 
 
     
     
       19. A non-transitory computer readable medium which contains a computer program for testing a cable connectable to a remote radio head of a plurality of remote radio heads connectable to a same radio base station, by a test device which, when run on the test device causes the test device to:
 generate an outbound test container, the outbound test container comprising digital samples representing a test signal; 
 transmit the outbound test container and a frequency parameter, indicating a frequency on which the test signal is to be transmitted, to a converter device being connectable to the plurality of remote radio heads connectable to the same radio base station via respective cables, for transmission by the converter device; 
 receive an inbound test container, the inbound test container comprising digital samples of a response signal received by the converter device based on the outbound test container; and 
 evaluate the inbound test container, 
 wherein the test device is a separate device from the converter device, and 
 wherein the remote radio head is configured to transmit wireless signals to a user equipment as part of a single radio cell of the wireless communication network. 
 
     
     
       20. A method for enabling testing of a cable connected to a converter device, the cable being connectable to a remote radio head of a plurality of remote radio heads connectable to a same radio base station, the method being performed in the converter device and comprising the steps of:
 receiving an outbound test container and a frequency parameter from a test device, the outbound test container comprising digital samples representing a test signal, wherein the frequency parameter indicates a frequency on which the test signal is to be transmitted; 
 converting the digital samples of the outbound test container to an analogue test signal on the frequency indicated by the frequency parameter; 
 transmitting the analogue test signal on a cable connected to the converter device; 
 receiving an analogue response signal from a cable connected to the converter device; 
 generating an inbound test container comprising digital samples of the analogue response signal; and 
 transmitting the inbound test container to the test device, 
 wherein the test device is a separate device from the converter device, and 
 wherein the remote radio head is configured to transmit wireless signals to a user equipment as part of a single radio cell of the wireless communication network. 
 
     
     
       21. The method according to  claim 20 , further comprising the steps of:
 receiving a test setup message from the test device to configure the converter device to be in a test state; and 
 configuring the converter device to be in a test state. 
 
     
     
       22. The method according to  claim 21 , wherein the step of configuring the converter device to be in a test state comprises setting a first port of the converter device as a port to be used for transmitting the analogue test signal, and/or setting a second port of the converter device as a port to be used for receiving the analogue response signal. 
     
     
       23. The method according to  claim 20 , further comprising the steps of:
 receiving a test reset message from the test device to configure the converter device to be in an operational state; and 
 configuring the converter device to be in an operational state.